The Tongsai Bay

“Tongsai Bay, a spot on Koh Samui where trees are not felled, no insecticides or chemical fertilizers are used in the green hotel grounds and humans are kind to animals”
Thanakorn Hoontrakul

Description

The Tongsai Bay is proud to be the first five star green hotel on Koh Samui, built in 1985. Since opening in 1987 it has established itself as the leading family owned green hotel on the beautiful island of Koh Samui. Set within lush tropical gardens on a hillside overlooking a secluded bay it consists of 83 suites, cottages, and villas.

The Tongsai Bay also known as "A bath with a view" has a bathtub on the spacious terraces and a stunning ocean view, enabling guests to enjoy their tropical surroundings. The beach is exclusive to the guests, no beach vendors and no motorized water sports. The guest will find a place where time stops and body and soul can unwind.

Its passionate love for the environment, the friendliness and professionalism of its staff makes a stay an unforgettable experience. Rightly The Tongsai Bay is said to be the most romantic hotel on Samui.

Highlights

25 acres of Land that is totally secluded and the guests never hear traffic or noisy neighbors

Private tranquil beach due to the location

A laid back experience in a luxury sustainable green resort enjoying an extraordinary and personal service

Early and Late Check-Out possible

Enjoy eco-friendly vacation in a green awarded hotel

Green Pearls® Score for The Tongsai Bay

environmental protection

being local - authentic experiences

giving back

cultural commitment

Book through Green Pearls® and benefit

Support sustainable tourism and receive a benefit!

Save your exclusive Green Pearls® offer now:

Make a reservation through our website or book directly at The Tongsai Bay with the code “Green Pearls” and enjoy an exclusive Thai set dinner in the cosy ambience of Tongsai Bay.

Tongsai Grand villaca.165m2, located on the hillside, with fantastic look about the bay

Tongsai Pool villaca.189m2, with private pool

Tongsai Bay History

In 1985 Akorn Hoontrakul, at this time chairman of “The Imperial Hotel Group”, saw the Bay from the sea and fell in love at first sight. Within seven days Akorn purchased the land. He slept at the beach for three months, dreaming of his ideal resort, and started to plan the layout and location of the rooms.

Not a single tree has been cut down and no damage was caused to the beautiful natural surroundings. In July 1987 the Tongsai Bay was opened and became the first five-star luxury green hotel on Koh Samui, Thailand, under the umbrella of The Imperial Hotel Group.

Following a period of illness in 1993, Khun Akorn sold the Imperial Hotel Group and kept The Tongsai Bay, because he wanted to live out the rest of his life there with his beloved wife Chompunute.

When Akorn passed away in 2000, the management of The Tongsai Bay went to the capable hands of his son, Thanakorn and his daughter in-law, Saisiri who both share Akorn’s passion for the environment and for providing the highest standards of hospitality and service.

The Tongsai Bay developed its own ‘Green Project’, being a sustainable, green resort from the beginning. This is now the model for many new hotels who also desire to preserve the island’s natural environment for future generations.

New Pool Cottage Suites

5 units

Maximum occupancy: 3 adults or 2 adults + 1 child

Set among the Cottage Suites, all 5 Pool Cottage suites offer a private plunge pool (20 sq.m.) surrounded by birds and butterflies alive and free

Split level floor enables the view from the air-conditioned living area as well as the open air terrace area with an outdoor bathtub

Sun bathe, take a dip under the moonlight or a midnight swim are all possible all in your own time

Protection of the environment was the first priotity when attaching the pool to the Cottages

The Tongsai Bay Projects and Initiatives

Protection of animals and plants

Environmental Protection

Conservation of Flora and Fauna

Water and Waste Water Management

Waste Management

Energy and Water Consumption

Being Local - Authentic

Giving Back

Architecture

Awareness Promotion & Cooperation

Protection of animals and plants

Around 60 different kinds of birds can only to be found in this part of Koh Samiu

Secure & Send Wounded Dog to the Dog Rescue Center

Preservation and care of animal and plants:
„We believe nature was here before us and we can share our home with them in harmony”.

Preserve the land for animals and trees and our ecosystems.

Avoid the use of products that harm animal from forest and sea.

No harming animals

No cutting down trees

Do not harm the animals and do not disturb their habitat.

If sick or injury animals are found, the hotel will seek for medical treatment.

If any dead animal is found, the staff of the hotel will seek an autopsy by the veterinarian to investigate the cause of death and to ensure that its death is not caused by Tongsai‟s activity or staff.

“There is plenty of space to share with other fellow refugees and it is safe here.
The humans leave us alone. There is a huge variety of food for us, not poisoned. Life goes on and I learn one thing… We can share space with humans peacefully.”

Environmental Protection

The Tongsai Bay is a Green Leaf accredited Resort that employs a full time Green Projects Manager – Khun Jul who trains, educates and develops the Tongsai Bay’s systems or processes for environmental protection.

His key areas of focus are:

Conservation of Animals and Plants

Garbage Management/Recycling

In house production of Effective Micro-organism liquid (EM) and minimization of chemical useage

Energy saving (water, electricity, oil and gas)

The Education of Environmental Awareness both within Tongsai Bay and beyond

The Tongsai Bay also contributes to the local community, the greater Thailand region and abroad. The Tongsai Bay is part of ‘Tourism Authroity of Thailand‘ – The 7 Green Concepts, The Green Island Foundation – Koh Samui, The Low Carbon School Project and is winner of.

The Tongsai Bay is accredited the G-Gold class of Green Hotel Award of the Department of Environmental Quality, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The hotel has won this award first time in 2015 and maintained the Gold class for re-surveillance in September 2017.

Conservation of Flora and Fauna

The Tongsai opened in 1987, even at this time Tongsai Bay was ‘green’ in thinking – the resort was designed and built to ensure that large preexisting trees were not felled. The design took a great deal of time to incorporate the natural topography of the existing land and the flora upon it. Some Cottages have charming characteristics such as large boulders shaping features internally or externally along with villas where large trees are now the centre piece of balconies that have been built around it.

The Tongsai Bay has internal policies that do not allow any staff member to cut down trees or act in any manner that may cause harm to any animal.

Animals that are found deceased on Tongsai Bay land are sent to a local vet for an autopsy to ensure that any passing is of natural causes and ensure that our Tongsai operations are not a factor.

Starting in July 2012, the Animal & Nature Protection Group (A Tongsai Bay founded group) worked with the greater staff body of Tongsai Bay on a plantation project on neighboring land to the resort – during this project over 130 trees were planted for which the Gardening team continue maintain weekly.

When the Tongsai Bay added the pools, they removed (transfered) some trees which were standing in front of the terraces where the pools stand, without killing them. The trees have since been replanted elsewhere on the hotel’s ground.

Leftover food, leaves, and branches are sent to the organic garden to be made into fertilizers

Reduce garbage by using reusable material.

Minimize chemical use by changing to eco-friendly toilet/bath cleaners, including a solution from the fruits peel that are fermented with EM (Effective Microorganism)

Bio-degradable plastic bags & straws

Biochemical product for bath amenities.

No plastic straw is allowed in our hotel.

Hazardous wastes are taken to a licensed industrial waste disposal plant at our own cost.

Energy and Water Consumption

Air-filled tap water

Signs in the guest room for saving water

Water heating tank is linked to the air condition condensing for the heat exchange

Used water is sent to the septic tank to be purified with EM liquid, (Effective Microorganism liquid)

Then the water is given to the plants in the resort afterward

Turn an egg case into wall pape

Housekeeping will normally turn off the air-condition after making up the room. Only by advice of the guest to turn on the air-condition.

Use of energy saving device, e.g. T8, LED light bulb

Use of central heat exchange system (water cooled) for air-condition

Encourage staff to reduce energy consumption

Being Local – Authentic

Cooperative Social Responsibility

Interact, support, and share our knowledge with local children

Garbage Management Awareness at Ban Plai Lam School

Learning about local trees and planting trees in the resort

Energy saving training for local people

Learn garbage separation in the game style

Learning about local trees and planting Trees in the resort

Local staff

Local food

Organic Garden

Member of Choengmon Conservation Group, a local conservation group of 16 hotels in this area, and share our environmental management practice to members.

Giving Back

Cooperative Social Responsibility

Contribution to the Society

Donation for building school canteen & fire station

Provide massage at the local hospital

Community clean up

Samui care free day

Inspection at the organic garden

Carefully chosen hotels that show the highest level of sustainability and unique luxury

Architecture

The Tongsai Bay replaced the wooden floor that was exposed to sun and rain, with a concrete structure and finished with large stone tiles. This in effect reduces the wear and tear of the wood and the wooden structure underneath which need replacing every now and then.

Hard wood is always needed for the purpose and as such in Thailand, it is still difficult to know where the wood comes from. So to change part of the structure on the terrace from wood to concrete reduces the need for wood replacement.

Include Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS) Procedure into the new staff orientation, including visiting organic garden, and communication of ESS Procedure as a refreshment through channels, e.g. posting on board, news update, Safety Health and Environmental (SHE) Committee.

Encourage environmental awareness to staff through a Waste Segregation program. The staff from each department will join the program to help segregate waste at waste house to ensure the effectiveness of waste segregation before transferred out to waste buyer/disposer (further to the waste segregation at source).

Encourage and seek kind cooperation from the guest to consume less resources and protect local environment, e.g. changing bed sheet and towel upon request (tag, put towel on floor).